Post-Race Analysis:
May 1, 2003 - Louisville, KY: Trebizond (Ire) showed a huge late
kick at Churchill Downs today, splitting rivals in deep stretch
to capture the $100,000 Grade I Hard Scuffle by a half-length over
Naughty Prince. Fighting Star was another three-quarters of a length
back in third. The final time for the 2 1/16th mile test run over
a firm course was 3:45.97, just .77 seconds slower than the track
record of 3:45.20 set by Pompeyo (Chi) in 2000.
Major Hero took command of the early lead and held that position
for the first circuit until he fell at the sixth fence. Naughty
Prince assumed the lead at that point and lead Fighting Star down
the backside the last time. Trebizond tracked those two from third
position as they rounded the far turn, but did not seem to be gaining
on the top pair as they straightened away at the top of the stretch.
Naughty Prince still had a clear lead as he landed over the last,
but Trebizond found another gear on the run-in, slicing between
Fighting Star and Naughty Prince to win going away in a game effort.
|
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Trebizond captured the first stakes race
of his career over his less-experienced rivals when he won
the Grade I Hard Scuffle.
|
Experience counts for something: Trebizond was the oldest horse
in the field, and had made 12 starts over fences prior to the Hard
Scuffle, more than twice as many starts than all of rest of his
competitors in the race except for Preemptive Strike, who had started
eight times. In addition, Trebizond was the only horse in the field
to have faced Grade I company before today, finishing fourth in
last year's Colonial Cup and fifth in this year's Carolina Cup,
both races coming against open company.
Trebizond is owned by William C. Lickle and trained by Katherine
Neilson, who was overwhelmed with excitement in the winner's circle:
"This is so great! This is the horse's biggest win ever, and
my biggest win ever, too. I've had him for the past two years and
he's a good horse to work with." Ms. Neilson was non-committal
when asked if Trebizond would start in the second leg of the Steeplechase
Triple Crown in Baltimore on May 16th. "That is going to be
for the owners to put their heads together on and figure out,"
she said.
Winning jockey Robert Massey was impressed with Trebizond's gutsy
performance: "The race unfolded even better than I could have
hoped. There was good early speed in there for the first mile and
it dragged us right along with it. Then when I put him in the race
down the backside the last time, he picked it right up. He does
just enough; just what he has to do. The last part of it was a bit
of a battle. There was an opening for him and he split horses and
battled it out. He's a tough horse. Determination won it for him
today.
Trebizond was bred in Ireland by Vincent O'Brien, who was the master
of Coolmore's Ballydoyle Farm prior to retiring and turning the
reins over to current trainer Aidan O'Brien. Trebizond is by perennial
leading European sire Saddler's Wells (by Northern Dancer) out of
a mare by Storm Bird (by Northern Dancer) and as such is very closely
inbred (2x3) to Northern Dancer. Trebizond is also inbred 2x3 to
full sisters Lisadell and Special, the later being the dam of Nureyev.
Both sisters are granddaughters of the blue hen Rough Shod II. This
pedigree pattern is very similar to that of 1996 steeplechase champion
Correggio (Ire), who was also bred by Vincent O'Brien. Like Trebizond,
Correggio is by Saddler's Wells out of a daughter of Lisadell again
resulting in 2x3 inbreding to the full sisters Lisadell and Special.
Contrarian Stables' Naughty Prince looked like a winner until
he was collared by Trebizond in the last 30 yards of the race. The
4-year-old son of Rakeen (by Northern Dancer) is now 2-for-4 lifetime
over fences with both victories coming this year. Naughty Prince
was produced by Princes Smoggy (By Smoggy (GB)), the dam of Tres
Touche who, like his little brother, also finished second in the
2001 edition of the Hard Scuffle. He is trained by Ricky Hendriks
and was ridden by last year's champion jockey David Bentley.
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Fighting Star ran well to finish third
in the Hard Scuffle on just eight days rest.
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Fighting Star won an allowance race ay Atlantic City
last week and was wheeled back in the Hard Scuffle on just eight
days' rest. The 5-year-old son of Chenin Blanc (by Lepheor) did
well to finish third beaten just 1 1/4 lengths for all the money.
He is trained by Janet Elliot and was ridden by Jody Petty.
Fighting Star is owned by Willard C. "Mike" Freeman, a successful
trainer on the New York circuit in the 60's and 70's who trained
the 1969 Filly Triple Crown winner Shuvee. Shuvee was retired in
1972 with earnings of $890,445, more than any other filly or mare
had earned at the time, and a record that stood until the mid-80's.
She was not only the best of her gender, she was also the first
filly or mare to win the two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, a feat she
accomplished two years in a row. On the strength of these and other
stakes victories, Shuvee was named champion older filly or mare
in both 1970 and 1971. A daughter of Nashua out of Levee (by Hill
Prince), Shuvee was a Virginia-bred product of Mr. & Mrs. Whitney
Stone's Morven Stud. She retired with a career record of 16 victories
from 44 starts, finishing second 10 times, and third six times.
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Major Hero and jockey Cyril Murphy fell
at the sixth fence of the Hard Scuffle. Fortunately, both
horse and rider appeared to escape serious injury.
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Coppertree Farm's Major Hero was making his first start of the
year in the Hard Scuffle for three-time defending champion steeplechase
trainer Tom Voss. The 7-year-old son of Major Impact (by Roberto)
lead for the first mile of the race before he fell at the sixth
fence. Fortunately both Major Hero and his jockey Cyril Murphy appeared
to escape serious injury.
The Hard Scuffle is the first leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown,
which also includes the $100,000 Joe Aitcheson at Pimlico May 16th
and the $100,000 Meadow Brook at Belmont Park on June 5th.
Click here for Daily Racing Form Past Performance
Charts for the Hard Scuffle.
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form.
Click here
to play the Steeplestakes.com Spring 2003 Handicapping Contest.
The complete order of finish for the Hard Scuffle is set forth
below.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Trebizond (IRE) |
151 |
Massey |
Katherine Neilson |
Willaim C. Lickle |
|
2
|
Naughty Prince |
141 |
Bentley |
Ricky Hendriks |
Contrarian Stables |
|
3
|
Fighting Star |
151 |
Petty |
Janet Elliot |
Willard C. Freeman |
|
4
|
Niello |
138 |
Kingsley |
William B. Cocks |
Mrs. Lewis C. Murdock |
|
5
|
Hotspur |
151 |
Brown |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Peachtree Stable |
|
6
|
Preemptive Strike |
148 |
Walsh |
Paul Roland |
Polaris Stables |
|
7
|
Pals Pride |
138 |
Foley |
Kevin Pallister |
Little Bay Racing Stable |
|
F
|
Major Hero |
151 |
Murphy |
Thomas H. Voss |
Coppertree Farm |
| Winner: |
Trebizond (IRE) - Bay Horse, April 04, 1996
Bred by Dr M. V. O'Brien in IRE |
| Pedigree: |
Sadler's Wells - Karri Valley , by Storm Bird
|
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
Total WPS
Pool: $273,667 |
| 6 |
Trebizond (IRE) |
12.40 |
5.40 |
3.60 |
|
| 2 |
Naughty Prince |
|
5.20 |
3.40 |
|
| 1 |
Fighting Star |
|
|
3.20 |
|
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $1 Pick 3 |
1/4/5/7-2/4-6 |
55.00 |
60,322 |
|
| $1 Pick 4 |
10-1/4/5/7-2/4-6
|
355.70 |
77,738 |
|
| $1 Pick 6 |
3-8-10-1/4/5/7-2/4-6
|
328.00 |
13,768 |
15,604 |
| $1 Daily Double |
2-6 |
18.80 |
72,762 |
|
| $2 Exacta |
6-2 |
69.20 |
225,414 |
|
| $1 Superfecta |
6-2-1-3 |
988.00 |
84,163 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
6-2-1 |
302.80 |
209,982 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 6 |
Trebizond (IRE): unhurried,moved one-quarter
out,angled between,driving |
| 2 |
Naughty Prince: dueled,took over,clear,outfinished |
| 1 |
Fighting Star: within striking distance,moved
outside winner,not good enough |
| 3 |
Niello: in contention to stretch, flattened
out |
| 7 |
Hotspur: failed to menace,no threat |
| 5 |
Preemptive Strike: never far back, steadied,lost
action after fence 6 |
| 4 |
Pals Pride: away from flag slowly, outrun |
| 8 |
Major Hero: dueled,clear lead,fell over fence
6 |
| Footnotes
|
|
TREBIZOND (IRE), unhurried
early, raced within easy striking distance, was asked for
his best approaching the stretch, angled inside the top two,
moved between foes after the last fence, then responded gamely
in the late going to be along in time. NAUGHTY PRINCE, close
up near the inside from early on, took over just after the
sixth fence when front-running MAJOR HERO fell, managed a
clear advantage into the stretch and couldn't contain the
winner's surge. FIGHTING STAR, in contention always, moved
up outside front-running NAUGHTY PRINCE approaching the stretch,
was just off that one and not good enough at the end. NIELLO,
in contention until the stretch, flattened out in the drive.
HOTSPUR failed to menace. PREEMPTIVE STRIKE, well placed,
raced in behind horses, was steadied and lost some of his
action just after the sixth fence behind MAJOR HERO when that
one fell, then weakened gradually. PALS PRIDE, away slowly
from the flag, wasn't a factor. MAJOR HERO contested the pace
from early on, raced three abreast while dueling, took over
soon after the second jump, was well clear of rivals, landed
badly over the sixth fence and fell shortly afterwards.
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back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
|
TREBIZOND (IRE) b. H,
1996 DP = 7-1-24-8-0 (40) DI = 1.00 CD = 0.18
|
TREBIZOND
(IRE)
b. 1996
15-2-3-4
$28,385 |
SADLERS
WELLS (USA)*
b. 1981 [CS]
11-6-4-0
$663,423 (in UK & Fr) |
NORTHERN
DANCER (CAN)*
b. 1961 [BC]
18-14-2-2
$580,806
Book |
|
NEARCTIC
(CAN)*
br. 1954
47-21-5-3
$152,384 |
NEARCO
(ITY)*
br. 1935 [BC]
Article |
PHAROS
(GB) |
b. 1920 [I]* |
13-e |
| NOGARA
(ITY) |
b. 1928 ** |
4-r |
LADY
ANGELA (IRE)
ch. 1944 |
HYPERION
(GB) |
|
ch. 1930 [BC]* |
6-e |
| SISTER
SARAH (GB) |
br. 1930 * |
14-c |
NATALMA
(USA)*
b. 1957
7-3-0-2
$16,015 |
NATIVE
DANCER (USA)*
gr. 1950 [IC]
Book |
POLYNESIAN
(USA) |
br. 1942 [I]* |
14-a |
| GEISHA
(USA) |
gr. 1943 * |
5-f |
ALMAHMOUD
(USA)**
ch. 1947 |
MAHMOUD
(FR) |
gr. 1933 [IC]* |
9-c |
| ARBITRATOR
(USA) |
b. 1937 |
2-d |
FAIRY
BRIDGE (USA)
b. 1975
2-2-0-0
$4,948 |
BOLD
REASON (USA)
b. 1968
17-7-4-2
$304,082 |
HAIL
TO REASON (USA)*
br. 1958 [C] |
TURN-TO
(IRE) |
b. 1951 [BI]* |
1-w |
| NOTHIRDCHANCE
(USA) |
b. 1948 |
4-n |
LALUN
(USA)*
b. 1952 |
DJEDDAH
(FR) |
ch. 1945 |
13-c |
| BE FAITHFUL
(USA) |
br. 1942 * |
19-b |
SPECIAL
(USA)*
b. 1969
1-0-0-0
$0 |
FORLI
(ARG)*
ch. 1963 [C] |
|
ARISTOPHANES
(GB) |
ch. 1948 |
9-c |
| TREVISA
(ARG) |
ch. 1951 |
3-b |
THONG
(USA)*
b. 1964 |
|
NANTALLAH
(USA) |
b. 1953 |
6-a |
| ROUGH
SHOD (GB) |
b. 1944 * |
5-h |
KARRI
VALLEY
1987 |
STORM
BIRD (CAN)
b. 1978
6-5-0-0
$168,891 |
NORTHERN
DANCER (CAN)*
b. 1961 [BC]
18-14-2-2
$580,806
Book |
|
NEARCTIC
(CAN)*
br. 1954 |
NEARCO
(ITY) |
br. 1935 [BC]* |
4-r |
| LADY
ANGELA (IRE) |
ch. 1944 |
14-c |
NATALMA
(USA)*
b. 1957 |
NATIVE
DANCER (USA) |
gr. 1950 [IC]* |
5-f |
| ALMAHMOUD
(USA) |
ch. 1947 ** |
2-d |
SOUTH
OCEAN (CAN)*
b. 1967
22-4-8-5
$70,147 |
NEW
PROVIDENCE (CAN)
b. 1956 |
BULL
PAGE (USA) |
dkb/br. 1947 |
4-m |
| FAIR
COLLEEN (GB) |
ch. 1950 |
9-d |
SHINING
SUN (USA)
b. 1962 |
CHOP CHOP
(USA) |
dkb/br. 1940 |
2-m |
| SOLAR
DISPLAY (USA) |
ch. 1951 * |
4-j |
LISADELL
(USA)
b. 1971
$30,739 |
FORLI
(ARG)*
ch. 1963 [C]
8-7-1-0
$26,650 (N.A.) PA$ 21.732.465 (Arg) |
|
ARISTOPHANES
(GB)
ch. 1948 |
HYPERION
(GB) |
|
ch. 1930 [BC]* |
6-e |
| COMMOTION
(GB) |
b. 1938 |
9-c |
TREVISA
(ARG)
ch. 1951 |
ADVOCATE
(GB) |
ch. 1940 |
4-k |
| VENETA
(ARG) |
ch. 1940 |
3-b |
THONG
(USA)*
b. 1964
22-5-4-5
$50,036 |
|
NANTALLAH
(USA)
b. 1953 |
NASRULLAH
(GB) |
b. 1940 [B]* |
9-c |
| SHIMMER
(USA) |
b. 1945 |
6-a |
ROUGH
SHOD (GB)*
b. 1944
Article |
GOLD
BRIDGE (FR) |
ch. 1929 * |
22-d |
| DALMARY
(GB) |
dkb/br. 1931 * |
5-h |
|
|
Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
| 2002 |
McDynamo (5) |
Thornton |
151 |
Najjm (5) |
160 |
Miles Ahead (5) |
148 |
| 2001 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (6) |
G. Brown |
157 |
Tres Touche (4) |
141 |
War Talk (6) |
151 |
| 2000 |
Pompeyo (Chi) (6) |
G. Brown |
148 |
Sharahere (5) |
148 |
Turkish Corner (4) |
142 |
| 1999 |
Popular Gigalo (5) |
C. Miller |
150 |
Lafitte The Pirate (6) |
150 |
Moshe (6) |
148 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
